I am feeling semi defeated. The many emails I have sent out in regards to contacting someone to be in touch with for issues and trends in early childhood have not been returned. I say semi defeated because while I do not have a direct connection with a person to share discussions with, I have found so many interesting websites filled with so much information.
There are three areas of the webpage I felt related to my personal goals and helped deepen my understanding.
They were:
Their views on quality:
In this section they discuss how there are no universal standards for quality but do offer some suggestions on ways to assure quality These factors include learning materials that are quantitative, culturally and developmentally adequate and focus on child-centered interaction. This section also discusses the issues of curriculum implementation. Parents put pressure on teachers to implement a curriculum and teach children, taking away from the child centered focus in learning. There is too much emphasis on a preparing a child for school academically and less focus on developing the child at their own level. "Active involvement from parents and communities and relevant play and learning materials ensure that early childhood services remain relevant to the needs of children and all other stakeholders and increases sustainability."
This is very important to my views because i feel child centered learning, and following an emerging curriculum is important and beneficial to a child's development.
The information they have on access for early childhood:
The beginning sentence of their access page says "learning begins at birth." Many countries involved in the Dakar Framework for Action were committed to expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education. They especially wanted to focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. There was a big emphasis on the importance of instituting policy in favor of the poor. Even though there is access to care for the children in poor families, their is still a concern about sustainability and quality.
The information they have on Inclusive Education:
I chose to include this portion because I feel that all learners, all children should have access to a quality education. This education will meet their basic needs for learning, help with their development and be age appropriate. The website offers news about areas that are vulnerable or marginalized. The page discusses that 75 million children are excluded from education. Seven out of ten live in sub-Saharan Africa or South and West Asia. Sixty percent of them are girls living in the Arab states and sixty-six percent in South and West Asia. The reasons they give for the inclusion are poverty, gender inequity, disability, child labor, speaking a minority language, belonging to an indigenous people, and living a nomadic or rural lifestyle. (UNESCO, 2011)
Some more links to look at and discuss fall under the Inclusive Education section which focus on different groups of children. Roma Children, Street Children, Child Workers, Child Soldiers, Children with Disabilities, Indigenous People and Rural People. Each link focuses on the groups of children, giving some statistics and information on what UNESCO is attempting to do to help these groups.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2011)
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/
6 comments:
Cassie,
Thanks for sharing and I always look forward to reading your blog each week because you bring great ideas and insight to our class.
I have also sent out may emails in regards to international contact, but have also been unsucessful.
I agree that parents are often putting too much pressure on the child's educator and thinks that it is entirely the teacher's fault if the child isn't successful.
Cassie,
Diversity and inclusion are topics that takes my attention as well. It makes me feel sad to see the numbers in millions as children who are not receiving the education. Even though UN has made the education a right of the children it feels as we have ways to go in nationally and internationally. Advocacy plays a huge role in gaining the positive reactions. Poverty, lack of knowledge of importance of education, beliefs systems and much more beriers to conquer. But there is always change is happening for the better.
Thank you for sharing.
Hello Cassie,
The UNSECO website had a lot of interesting information about early childhood education and care. The views involving quality and access were very helpful with understanding ways to assure quality and the access section talks about how learning begin at birth which focus on disadvantaged children. I agree all children whether they are inclusion have a right to recieve an education.
Cassie,
I know how that feeling of being semi- defeated also. I was so excited because some one from a University finally got back to me and said that she found someone who agreed to speak to me and be my contact, so I quickly email her and told her what I needed... and nothing. :(
I agree that parents so put pressure on teachers, and feel it every year. It isn't easy to do what is right for children, when parents don't see it that way. Great job on your blog and very informative!
I have felt the same way about being defeated with my international contacts. But the websites are so interesting to explore. I share the feeling about the friction between parents expectations about teachers and the pressure that it puts upon them. I am a huge supporter of building a positive working relationship with teachers and educating parents as well as their children.
Cassie it was a lot of information that was useful about early childhood education in the UNSECO website. It talked about the first conference on Early Childhood Care in Moscow. I will look back at this website sometimes it has useful information.
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